In general, many people in the US and other places with access to a wide variety of foods often forget about the daily eating habits that will make us healthier, help us gain more muscle, become a little taller, and even make us smarter. With that being said, off of my own personal experience, I have a not-so-good habit of eating things that look good, rather than eating what is actually GOOD for my body.
I’m not saying it’s a crime to reach in the fridge and get yourself a delicious chocolate pudding, or get that new Dairy Queen milkshake that everyone in the office or at school is talking about every once in a while. But for the most part, it is best for your body to stay in the best condition, and by doing that, you might (should) have to start eating healthy on a regular basis. To help you do that, here is a list the Top 10 healthiest foods so that we can all have a better idea as to what we can start eating to live a happier, healthier lifestyle.
1- Apples
“An Apple A Day Keeps the Doctor Away”. While apples are mostly delicious to eat, the antioxidant found in them might even increase lifespans. Apples are a great way to lower your cholesterol as well, so it might not be such a bad thing to actually eat an apple per day!
2- Lemons
Lemons, with their sour taste, actually have more than 100 percent of your daily dose of Vitamin C. The citrus flavanoids inside the lemon can act as an anti-inflammitory, as well as stop cancer cells from growing in your body. Natural Lemonade will definitely be on my next grocery list!
3- Broccoli
Even though I absolutely despise broccoli, I have found that it is actually very healthy for you. Like lemons, broccoli contains Vitamin C, while not having as much, it still gives you the nutrients your body needs. Broccoli may also reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
4- Almonds
I have an almond tree in my backyard, yet I never eat the almonds, knowing how great they are for your body, I might have to start eating them more often. Almonds contain Vitamin E, iron, calcium, and riboflavin. Almonds also can increase your lifespan.
5- Dark Chocolate
Yes, dark chocolate. Although this is not something you should eat everyday, it’s very good for you to eat every once in a while. In dark chocolate, only one-fourth of an ounce can reduce blood pressure in a non-so-healthy individual. Personally, I’m not a big fan of dark chocolate, but feel free to eat it because it really is healthy for you (again, NOT everyday)!
6- Salmon
I’m also not a big fan of just seafood in general, but I might be willing to give it a try because of how healthy it is to eat. With 3 fatty-acids, it reduces risk of heart disease and cancer. A 3 0z. serving of salmon also contains 50% of your daily dose of niacin, which is known to protect risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss.
7- Blueberries
Blueberries are almost always my key ingredient in smoothies so I’m glad to find out that they’re actually healthier than I initially thought they were. With fiber and antioxidants, blueberries can reduce the risk of high blood pressure by about 10%. Blueberries are also prevent diseases and keeps the body functioning healthy and properly.
8- Avocados
Avocados are healthy because of multiple reasons, but I’ll only give you a few. Avocados, according to a study, are proven to lower cholesterol by 22%. One avocado has a little more than half the fiber you need daily, in which actually might reduce the risk of getting heart disease.
9- Spinach
No, I’m not telling you eating a mass amount of spinach will turn you into Popeye, but it can make you a lot healthier in your everyday life. It consists of lutein and zeaxanthin, which are two extremely necessary antioxidants to improve eye health. Out of multiple fruits and vegetables, one study recently found that spinach is the most cancer-fighting vegetable.
10- Oatmeal
Now last, but definitely not least, we have oatmeal capping off our Top 10 at none other than spot number 10. Multiple studies have shown that if you eat a bowl of the good-ole oatmeal everyday, your blood cholesterol levels will drop, and even more so if your blood cholesterol levels are too high. Having B-Vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids, oatmeal helps you stay healthy while also being a delicious, any-time-of-the-day meal for pretty much everyone.